Now, Miao Xiu and his son had lost their silver, but since it had come from shady dealings, they dared not make a fuss; like a mute who has been robbed, they could only swallow their loss without a word. Bai Yutang tucked his silver into his clothes and went his own way. As for Zhan Zhao, he took his silver and made straight for Tianchang Town. But no more of that for now.

Our story turns to Lord Bao, who had finished trying the cases at Sanxing Town and was resting his horses there, with nothing in particular to attend to. Bao Xing had not forgotten the Pillow of Immortal Journeys. “Tonight,” he thought, “I’ll have a sleep on the Pillow of Immortal Journeys on the quiet. Wouldn’t that be fine?” So that evening, when he had seen Lord Bao settled for the night, he said to Li Cai, “Brother Li, would you take the whole night tonight? I haven’t had a proper rest for days, and tonight I’d like to slip off for a bit. Keep your wits about you, and if the master wants tea, you see to it. Tomorrow I’ll take your turn.” “Off you go, and don’t worry,” said Li Cai. “I’m here. We’re both in service — why keep count between us?”

Bao Xing nodded with a smile and went back to his own room. He looked the Pillow of Immortal Journeys over once more, and before he knew it he felt drowsy. He laid the pillow down, and the moment his head touched it, he was away in the land of dreams. He went out of the door of his room and saw a black horse, its saddle and bridle all black too, with a man in black on either side of it. Giving him no chance to say a word, they helped him up into the saddle, and off they went at a tremendous speed until they came to a place that looked just like the great hall of the Kaifeng yamen. He got down from the horse, puzzled. “How do I come to be back in the yamen?” he wondered. Then he saw a board hanging up above, inscribed “The Hall of Yin and Yang1.” While he was still puzzling over it, a judge of the dead2 came up and said, “Who are you? How dare you pass yourself off as the Lord of the Star and come here playing the fool!” “Seize him!” he shouted. Out stepped a mighty warrior in golden armour and gave a thunderous shout — and Bao Xing woke with a start, drenched in a cold sweat. He thought to himself, “Everything comes down to the luck you’re born with. I haven’t even the luck to enjoy a pillow! The judge said I was passing myself off as the Lord of the Star, so this pillow must be meant for the Lord of the Star to sleep on, one of these days. No wonder Li Keming was supposed to give it to the Lord of the Star.” He turned it over and over in his mind — how could he sleep now? In a huff he got up. He listened: the fourth watch had only just been beaten. He hurried to Lord Bao’s room, and there sat Li Cai in a chair, dozing, his head nodding forward and jerking back. The candle had burned on with its wick untrimmed, and the snuff had curled up like the head of a ruyi sceptre. Bao Xing quickly trimmed it with the snuffers. Then he saw a note lying on the table. He picked it up, looked at it, and cried out before he could stop himself, “Where did this come from?” That woke Li Cai with a start. “I wasn’t asleep!” he said hastily. “Not asleep?” said Bao Xing. “Then where did this note come from?” Before Li Cai could answer, they heard Lord Bao ask, “What note? Bring it here and let me see.” Bao Xing took up the lamp, Li Cai lifted the door curtain, and they handed the note in. Lord Bao took it and read it. “What time is it?” he asked. Bao Xing held the lamp up to the clock. “It has just turned the hour of yin3,” he said. “Then it’s time I was up,” said Lord Bao.

While the two of them were helping Lord Bao dress and wash his face, he told Li Cai to go and ask Mr. Gongsun to come. Before long Mr. Gongsun arrived, and Lord Bao gave him the note to read. Gongsun Ce took it and saw that it said: “Tomorrow, at Tianchang Town, guard well against a deadly assassin. Divide your men and send them two ways: one way to Donggao Wood, to seize the wicked Pang Yu; one way to the Guanyin Shrine, to save the life of a woman of honour. Urgent, urgent!” Beside it was a line in small characters: “The woman of honour is Jin Yuxian.” “Where can this note have come from?” said Gongsun Ce. “Why trouble about where it came from?” said Lord Bao. “Tomorrow, when we reach Tianchang Town, we will keep a strict guard. And send men out as well — tell them, sir, to keep watch on both roads.” Gongsun Ce withdrew at once and talked it over with the four brave men, Wang, Ma, Zhang and Zhao, and every one of them was on the alert.

Where, you may ask, had the note come from? After leaving Miaojia Market, the Southern Hero had hurried on to Tianchang Town. Finding that Lord Bao had not yet arrived, he thought to himself, “I’m afraid Lord Bao may come rushing in with no time to take precautions. Better for me to go out and meet him, and find some way to let him in on the plot, so that he can make ready in good time.” What a hero! Sparing himself no trouble, he hurried on to Sanxing Town. It was just the third watch when he reached the official guesthouse. Seeing Li Cai asleep, he did not disturb him but slipped inside, left the slip of paper, and went back to Tianchang Town to wait.

Now, the next day Lord Bao reached Tianchang Town and went into the official guesthouse, which was searched thoroughly, front and back, left and right. Gongsun Ce gave secret orders to the two heads of the mounted and foot constables4, one named Geng Chun and the other Zheng Ping: they were to take the left and the right between them and check everyone who came in or went out. Wang, Ma, Zhang and Zhao were to surround Lord Bao’s quarters and patrol front and back, while he himself, with Bao Xing and Li Cai, stayed close by Lord Bao to guard him. “If anything stirs, raise the word, and we all close in together.” When everyone had his post, the day wore on to lamp-lighting time. Lamps and candles everywhere made the place as bright as day, and outside the watchmen came and went without a break. Anyone else would have thought it was only because the imperial commissioner was staying there — who would have guessed they were on guard against an assassin? Inside, Wang, Ma, Zhang and Zhao were rubbing their fists and itching for action, their weapons hidden about them and every nerve keyed up, ready to catch the assassin. Truly, a tight guard!

The third watch came and went, and still nothing stirred. Outside, the watchmen’s lanterns shone brightly, lighting up the tops of the walls. Inside, Zhao Hu went about gazing upward in every direction. Following the lamplight that fell from beyond the wall, he came to the foot of a big elm tree. Suddenly he looked up and shouted, “Somebody’s up there!” At that one shout, Wang, Ma and Zhang came running too, and outside, the watchmen stopped in their tracks. They all held up their lamps and peered into the tree, and sure enough, there was a dark shape. At first they still took it for a shadow among the branches; but then the man in the tree, hearing the shouting below and seeing the blaze of lights, began to move. At the sight, the whole place broke into an uproar. Someone outside called, “He’s jumped down! Look out in there!” But the man in the tree seized on that very shout. He gripped the top of the tree, swung himself out and, riding the swing, dropped onto the roof of an ear room5; then he crouched, sprang upward, and was on the front slope of the main roof. “Villain!” shouted Zhao Hu. “Where do you think you’re going?” Before the words were out of his mouth, a whole stack of tiles came flying down at his face. The Madcap dodged aside in a flash and got clear of them, but he had thrown himself so hard that he went head over heels. Seizing his chance, the man on the roof swung up a leg. He was just about to go over the ridge when there came a cry of “Ow!” and down he came, tumbling over and over off the roof, to land right beside Fourth Master. Fourth Master rolled over and pinned him down. Everyone rushed up. First they pulled the sabre from his back; then they tied him up with rope and, pushing and shoving, brought him before Lord Bao.

Lord Bao and Gongsun Ce were there in everyday clothes and caps. Smiling all over his face, Lord Bao said, “What a fine, strapping brave man! A hero, bold and fierce, if ever I saw one.” He turned to Gongsun Ce. “Sir, untie him for me.” Mr. Gongsun took his meaning and pretended to be alarmed. “This man came here to kill you. How can we let him go?” Lord Bao laughed. “I thirst for men of worth. When I see a brave man like this, how could I not take to him? Besides, there is no quarrel between this brave man and me, so why would he want to harm me? Some petty scoundrel has simply made a tool of him. Untie him, quickly.” Gongsun Ce said to the man, “Did you hear that? His Excellency shows you such great kindness — how will you repay him?” With that he told Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to untie him. Wang Chao saw a sleeve arrow6 lodged in the man’s leg and quickly pulled it out for him. Then Lord Bao told Bao Xing, “Bring him a seat.”

Seeing how Lord Bao treated him, and seeing Wang, Ma, Zhang and Zhao standing on either side as proud and fierce as tigers, the man felt his conscience stir in spite of himself. Silently he praised Lord Bao: “People say Lord Bao is upright and has an eye for a hero. It’s no idle talk.” He threw himself down on the floor. “I have offended against the imperial commissioner,” he said. “Truly, I deserve to die.” “Please get up, brave sir,” Lord Bao said at once. “Sit down, and we can talk.” “How could I dare sit in the presence of the imperial commissioner?” said the man. “Sit down, brave sir, by all means,” said Lord Bao. “What harm is there in that?” The man had no choice but to bow and sit down. “What is your honourable name, brave sir?” asked Lord Bao. “And what brings you here?” Treated like this, the man found the words slipping out before he knew it. “My name is Xiang Fu,” he answered. “I was sent by Pang Yu…” And he told the whole story from beginning to end. “I never thought Your Excellency would treat me so generously. I’m so ashamed I wish the ground would swallow me.” Lord Bao smiled. “The truth is, His Majesty has shown me too much favour, and it has spread my name far and wide. That has made me envied, and a great many people slander me. When one day you stand face to face with the Marquis of Anle, brave sir, you can bear witness before him, and then the bond between the Grand Preceptor and me, his protégé7, need not be broken.” “Yes, Your Excellency,” said Xiang Fu at once. Lord Bao told Gongsun Ce to see that the brave man’s arrow wound was properly tended, and Gongsun Ce led Xiang Fu away.

Lord Bao quietly called Wang Chao over and told him to let Xiang Fu appear to go free while secretly keeping him under guard. Wang Chao also handed up the sleeve arrow and said that it was the Southern Hero Zhan Zhao’s. When Lord Bao heard this, he said, “So the gallant Zhan has been helping us in secret! The note left at Sanxing Town the other night must have been his doing too.” His heart was full of gratitude and admiration. Wang Chao withdrew.

By now Mr. Gongsun had made all his arrangements. He sent Ma Han, with Geng Chun and Zheng Ping, the heads of the mounted and foot constables, to the Guanyin Shrine, to head off the party and rescue Jin Yuxian; and he sent Zhang Long and Zhao Hu to Donggao Wood to seize Pang Yu.

Our story turns to Ma Han. With Geng Chun and Zheng Ping, he made straight for the Guanyin Shrine, and as he went he saw a mule litter8 heading for the front of the shrine. At the sight Ma Han raced after it as if he had wings. When he caught up, someone at the roadside called out, “Why so late, brother?” Ma Han looked closely: it was the Southern Hero. “Brother,” he said, “where is this litter going?” “I’ve already taken the litter,” said Zhan Zhao, “and found a place for Jin Yuxian in the Guanyin Shrine. You’ve come at just the right time, brother. Let’s go there together.” While they were talking, Geng Chun and Zheng Ping caught up too, and with the litter in their midst they all came to the front of the shrine. The gate was opened, and out came an old woman and a nun. The old woman was none other than Tian Zhong’s wife, Mrs. Yang. They lifted the litter down and helped Jin Yuxian out, and mistress and servant fell into each other’s arms and wept bitterly. (It was the Southern Hero, too, who had sent word to Mrs. Yang and told her to wait there.) Then they carried all the valuables down from the litter. The Southern Hero said to Mrs. Yang, “The two of you, mistress and servant, wait here. When your master’s case is settled, he’ll be told to come here for you.” And to the nun he said, “Reverend, look after them well. When Mr. Tian comes, he will reward you handsomely.” When he had given his instructions, he said to Ma Han, “Go back, brother, and give His Excellency my deepest respects. Tell him, ‘Zhan Zhao will call on him another day. We shall meet again.’ And report to him plainly where Jin Yuxian is. She is a chaste woman, ready to die for her honour; there is no need to bring her into open court9 to give evidence. I’m counting on you! Farewell!” And off he strode without a backward glance. Ma Han dared not try to keep him. There was nothing for it but to go back the way he had come with Geng Chun and Zheng Ping and report to Lord Bao. But no more of that for now.

Our story turns back to Zhang Long and Zhao Hu. They reached Donggao Wood and found not a sign of anything stirring. “Don’t tell me the swine’s gone by already?” said Zhao Hu. “The road ahead is open as far as the eye can see, and there’s not a soul on it,” said Zhang Long. “How could he have gone by?” Even as they spoke, they saw a band of men on horseback coming from far off. At the sight Zhao Hu said, “Here they come, here they come! Brother, you and I will do thus and thus, and then we can’t get the wrong man.” Zhang Long nodded and led the runners to hide behind the trees. The riders urged on their horses, and just as they reached the spot, Zhao Hu dashed across in front of the horses and went sprawling on the ground. Out from behind the trees came Zhang Long, shouting wildly, “Help! Help! You’ve ridden a man down and killed him!” He rushed up and seized Pang Yu’s horse by the bridle ring. “You’ve run a man down — and where do you think you’re going?” All the runners crowded in. The wicked servants spoke up: “What a nerve you people have, daring to stop His Lordship and hold him here!” “Marquis or duke, who cares?” said Zhang Long. “Just bring our man back to life, and that’ll be the end of it.” “What insolence!” said the wicked servants. “This is the Marquis of Anle, the Grand Preceptor’s son, travelling in disguise to make secret inquiries. And you dare to block his way? You’re turning heaven upside down!” Lying on the ground, Zhao Hu heard plainly that it was the Marquis of Anle: there could be no mistake now. He rolled over and was up on his feet in a flash, and the first thing he did was slap the man who had spoken full in the face. “Turning heaven upside down, are we?” he roared. “It’s the man who turned heaven upside down we’ve been waiting for!” With that he hauled Pang Yu down off his horse, and the runners brought out a chain and locked it on him. Seeing how things had turned, the wicked servants each gave his horse a cut of the whip, and — whoosh! — every one of them fled clean away10. There was no catching them, and since Zhang Long and Zhao Hu cared only about Pang Yu, they did not even try. Escorting the villainous Marquis under guard, the whole party made straight for the official guesthouse.

To learn how it all turned out, read the next chapter.